'He was in the wrong place at the wrong time': Family mourns as Waukegan police investigate stabbing

A 28-year-old Waukegan man who died after being stabbed Saturday outside a Waukegan restaurant leaves behind two young children, siblings in mourning and, for now, a trail of questions.

Oscar Castaneda grew up in Waukegan, attended Waukegan High School and "always had a smile on his face, always," his twin sister Mariana Rocha, of Waukegan, said Tuesday.

Castaneda was one of four people stabbed at about 2 a.m. outside of La Canoa restaurant and bar on Green Bay Road, according to Waukegan police.

He died in surgery later Saturday, according to Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper, who said blood loss as a result of knife wounds was the cause of death.

Rocha said she was notified by her older sister that her brother had been stabbed, and that she immediately drove to Vista Medical Center East, where she was able to see him before he died. But, she added, he never regained consciousness while she was there.

"He was always a happy person," she said. "He would walk into a room and make everybody laugh."

Rocha said her brother had some trouble in his background, but had vowed to change, especially for his young children. According to court and Illinois Department of Corrections records, he was currently on parole after spending about a year-and-a-half in custody following a Lake County conviction for possession of a weapon as a gang member.

Rocha said her brother was at La Canoa with friends on Saturday, and that from what she has been told, he was not involved in the dispute that led to the stabbings.

"He said, 'I'm going to change.' He didn't drink alcohol anymore. He spent time with his kids," she said. "He was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Florip said that at about 2 a.m. Saturday, Waukegan patrol officers were dispatched to what was described as a "large fight" in the parking lot of La Canoa, located at 50 S. Green Bay.

Upon arrival, the officers located four victims who had been stabbed during the altercation. It was unclear what sparked the fight and police declined to elaborate.

Officers located four total stabbing victims. All four were described by authorities as males in their 20s from the Lake County area. Castaneda was the only one who didn't survive after being transported for treatment.

Florip said that while officers were investigating the incident, a witness approached them "and told them who was responsible for the stabbings."

Florip said Tuesday he could not provide additional information on the incident at this time, citing an ongoing investigation and a review of the case with the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.

Rocha said she and her brother were known as "Chita" and "Chito" growing up in Waukegan, and his nickname stuck.

"Everyone called him Chito. No one called him Oscar," she said.

A visitation for Castaneda is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Memorial Chapel of Waukegan, which is handling the arrangements, a spokesperson said. His funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at Holy Family Church in Waukegan.

He is survived by his young daughter and son, along with Rocha, an older sister and a younger brother.

Rocha said Castaneda always was willing to help family, friends and neighbors, and it is gratifying to see the community respond with offers of help since his death. She said friends are making T-shirts and memorials in his honor, and helping the family.

"We're very thankful," she said.

A previous version of this story misidentified Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper.